Seanad Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 28 Jun 1995

Vol. 144 No. 4

Order of Business.

Mr. Manning

It is proposed to take items 1 and 2. There is no guillotine on item 1, but if it is concluded today we will, by agreement, proceed to the further Stages of the Bill. It is proposed to take item 2 at 6 o'clock.

As the funeral of our late colleague, Senator Gordon Wilson, is taking place at 2 o'clock tomorrow afternoon, the House will not sit tomorrow to enable Members and staff to attend the funeral. Thursday's business will be taken on Friday, 29 June. I thank the Opposition Whips for agreeing to these arrangements.

Mr. Wright

I welcome the initiative take by the Leader of the House with regard to the arrangements made for tomorrow. It is the wish of all Members of the House to attend the funeral service if possible.

With regard to item 1, I ask the Leader to arrange that at least 30 minutes be allowed to the spokespersons in the interests of debate on the Bill.

Mr. O'Toole

Every time somebody builds a wall it appears to create some kind of difficulty for others. I raise this matter as an Independent Member with no party interest in it. It is worrying if political capital is made of the fact that security arrangements are made around the Taoiseach's home and if they also become a matter for political footballing across the House. It demeans politics. As independent politicians we are required to take due care to ensure the security of elected public representatives. If, therefore, security personnel consider that security arrangements must be made on the Taoiseach's home it should be beyond question. Those who question it and make political football out of it merely raise the normal kind of pub comment to a level that demeans politics. I ask my colleagues on the Fianna Fáil benches to desist from this. It does not matter who is in Government——

Mr. R. Kiely

It is a pity the Senator did not think of this some years ago.

(Interruptions.)

An Leas-Chathaoirleach

Senator O'Toole without interruptions. A question to the Leader please, Senator.

Mr. O'Toole

I do not wish to embarrass anybody by going over the successive walls policies of successive Governments as there would be no winners on that issue.

Mr. Daly

The Senator is off the wall.

An Leas-Chathaoirleach

We are not discussing walls today; we discussed them last week.

Mr. O'Toole

We should convey our concern to our elected Government about its security.

Mr. Finneran

It would appear that Senator O'Toole has no problems regarding certain colours of walls. Will the Leader of the House ask the Minister for Finance to attend the House to explain why his Department has abandoned the arterial drainage scheme for north west County Roscommon with a loss of 70 jobs? I understand that the scheme was not due to be completed for another three years as many outstanding works were to be done in that period. However, the Minister has now decided to abandon the project and make 70 staff redundant. It is a serious matter for the area concerned.

Many people fail to understand the Minister's action in view of the amendments that have been made to the arterial drainage legislation. They consider that the area could have been a suitable location for the headquarters and staff to implement the provisions of the amended legislation. If the Leader arranged for the Minister for Finance to attend the House we may possibly get a change on this decision as it would be in the interest of the whole region of County Cavan and north west County Roscommon.

Mr. Magner

I support Senator O'Toole on his sterling defence of the construction industry.

Miss Ormonde

Legislation on the transfer of sentenced prisoners will be debated in this House within the next two weeks. In view of the sudden death of Senator Gordon Wilson and the fact that there is such concern in Britain, it seems that we are dragging our heels. I would hate to think that, on humanitarian grounds, this Bill would be delayed in any way. It is going through the other House and we should give an assurance that it will go through all Stages in this House before the summer recess.

Mr. Farrell

I have two questions. In view of the fact that the late Fr. Michael Cleary, who did so much good work in this country, is being vilified and scandalised in the media, is there any possibility——

An Leas-Chathaoirleach

That is not a matter for the Order of Business.

Mr. Farrell

In fairness, a law should be introduced to protect the dead because this could happen to any of us. It is scandalous. I believe the Government should set up an inquiry to prove whether the journalists involved were right or wrong. They seem to be a law unto themselves when it comes to writing this type of article.

My second question relates to drugs at discos. A young man has died and a girl stated on radio yesterday that within ten minutes of entering a disco people are approached to buy drugs. On several occasions when we have had debates on this subject I have asked why the legal authorities cannot arrest those responsible for pushing drugs; they are pushing death. The Minister should come before this House to explain why drugs are so readily available and why so little is being done.

Mr. Daly

I do not wish to raise the situation of the county roads and the Minister for the Environment every week. However, the Leader has given undertakings that he would get some information on what action the Minister is proposing to take about the collapse of the county roads, and the provision of additional finances, as indicated in this House during the debate on the matter. If necessary we will endeavour to raise this issue again by way of some other mechanism. I would like the Leader to impress upon the Minister the urgency of dealing with the situation. Many local authorities are now laying off staff. The Government's attitude is in sharp contrast to the situation where they can readily find £500,000 to purchase new Mercedes.

Mr. Manning

With regard to the point raised by Senator Wright, I should have stated at the outset that we would have 30 minutes for the first speaker and 20 minutes for each speaker thereafter. Since Senator O'Toole does not want to make political capital of the issue I will not either.

Senator Finneran raised the question of the arterial drainage scheme. He made a good case. I will inquire to see if the Minister is available or if I can obtain some information on that issue.

Senator Ormonde raised the question of the Transfer of Sentenced Prisoners Bill. The matter is one of great urgency. It was intended to introduce the Bill to the House on Thursday next; if possible, it will now be introduced on Tuesday. We hope to put the Bill through all Stages by the end of next week for the reasons indicated by Senator Ormonde.

Senator Farrell raised a number of questions. On the question of drugs, there is an enormous problem. It was heartening that real progress was made on heightening international co-operation against drugs at the summit in Cannes yesterday. The problem is clearly an international one. Most of the drugs are coming from outside and this country is being used as a transit area. The problem needs to be tackled internationally with the provision of major resources and a good start was made at Cannes. On the other question raised by Senator Farrell, we would all like to see clearer guidelines and regulations laid down as to what is or is not appropriate for press coverage. Perhaps there should be a wide ranging debate on that issue. It would be in everyone's interests.

The question of county roads has been raised more than once by Senator Daly. I have conveyed his questions to the Minister who has assured me that there will soon be a major report on the matter. I am simply conveying that message to the Senator. If I may clarify one question, there will be a sos from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.

Order of Business agreed to.